Aesculus tree named ‘Aaron1’

ABSTRACT

A new cultivar of  Aesculus  named ‘Aaron1’, that is characterized by its large inflorescences that are pinkish red in color, its inflorescences that are borne upright and within the foliage, its good resistance to leaf scorch, its good cold hardiness, and its resistance to leaf blotch.

Botanical classification: Aesculus×bushii.

Cultivar designation: ‘Aaron1’.

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Aesculus×bushii plant, botanically known as Aesculus ‘Aaron1’ and will be referred to hereafter by its cultivar name, ‘Aaron1’. The new cultivar is a deciduous tree grown for use as a landscape plant.

‘Aaron1’ was discovered by one of the Inventors in the spring of 2003 as a chance seedling growing in a production block of Aesculus glabra seedlings at a nursery in Jackson, Wis. The exact parentage is unknown; however it is most likely a seedling resulting from the cross-pollination of unnamed and unpatented plants of Aesculus glabra and Aesculus pavia (Aesculus×bushii) based on their characteristics and the origin of the seed.

Asexual propagation of the new cultivar was first accomplished by side veneer grafting onto a Aesculus glabra seedling under the direction of one of the Inventors in July of 2003 in Menomonee Falls, Wis. Asexual propagation by side veneer grafting and cleft grafting onto Aesculus glabra seedlings has determined that the characteristics of the new cultivar are stable and are reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and represent the characteristics of the new cultivar. These attributes in combination distinguish ‘Aaron1’ as a unique cultivar of Aesculus.

-   -   1. ‘Aaron1’ exhibits large inflorescences that are pinkish red         in color.     -   2. ‘Aaron1’ exhibits good resistance to leaf scorch.     -   3. ‘Aaron1’ exhibits good cold hardiness for an Aesculus with         pinkish red flowers.     -   4. ‘Aaron1’ exhibits good resistance to leaf blotch.

A probably parent plant of ‘Aaron1’, an unnamed plant of Aesculus glabra, differs from ‘Aaron1’ in having flowers that are light yellow in color and in being taller in overall height. The probable parent plant of ‘Aaron1’, an unnamed plant of Aesculus pavia, differs from ‘Aaron1’ in having flowers that are bright red in color and in being less cold hardy. ‘Aaron1’ can be most closely compared to the Aesculus×carnea cultivars ‘Ft. McNair’ (not patented) and ‘Briotii’ (not patented). ‘Ft. McNair’ is similar to ‘Aaron1’ in having inflorescences that are pinkish red in color. ‘Ft. McNair’ differs from ‘Aaron1’, in having a more rounded plant habit, in being less cold hardy, and in having lower quality late season foliage due to leaf scorch and leaf blotch. ‘Briotii’ differs from ‘Aaron1’ in having inflorescences that are brighter red in color, in being less cold hardy, and in having lower quality late season foliage due to leaf scorch and leaf blotch.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance and distinct characteristics of the new Aesculus. The photographs were taken of a plant 12 years in age as field grown outdoors at a nursery in Menomonee Falls, Wis.

The photograph in FIG. 1 provides a side view of a plant of ‘Aaron1’ in bloom.

The photograph in FIG. 2 provides a close-up view of an inflorescence of ‘Aaron1’.

The colors in the photographs are as close as possible with the photographic and printing technology utilized and the color values cited in the detailed botanical description accurately describe the colors of the new Aesculus.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following is a detailed description of 2 year-old plants of the new cultivar as grown outdoors in 2-gallon containers in a nursery in Menomonee Falls, Wis. The phenotype of the new cultivar may vary with variations in environmental, climatic, and cultural conditions, as it has not been tested under all possible environmental conditions. The color determination is in accordance with The 2015 R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, except where general color terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   General description:     -   -   Blooming period.—Mid-May in Jackson, Wis.         -   Plant type.—Deciduous tree.         -   Plant habit.—Upright with inflorescences that are borne             upright.         -   Height and spread.—13 year-old plants reaches an average of             3.7 m in height and 0.9 m in width with a caliper of 6.35             cm.         -   Cold hardiness.—At least to U.S.D.A. Zone 5b.         -   Diseases and pests.—Resistance to leaf blotch (Guignardia             aesculi) and leaf scorch (Xylella fastidiosa) has been             observed.         -   Root description.—Woody taproot with lateral woody roots,             color similar to mature branch color.         -   Propagation.—Cleft grafting and side veneer grafting on             Aesculus glabra seedlings.         -   Propagation time.—New grafts made in late winter take about             one month for a terminal bud to emerge and until the end of             the growing season to produce a young tree about 8-inches in             height that is ready for transplant.         -   Growth rate.—Slow to moderate. -   Branch description:     -   -   Branch habit.—2 lateral branches and 1 to 2 secondary             branches per lateral branch.         -   Branch size.—Main stem; an average of 8 cm in length (above             the graft) and 1 cm in width measure 8 cm from the graft,             lateral branches; an average of 50 cm in length and 8 mm in             width, secondary; up to 30 cm in length and 6 mm in width.         -   Branch shape.—Oval.         -   Branch color.—Twigs (first year growth); 144A, lateral             branches and main stems: a blend of 198B and 200B.         -   Branch surface.—Twigs; very minute and sparse pubescence             (appearance is smooth) with lenticels oval in shape, <0.5 mm             in length, about 8 per stem 1 cm in length, 156D in color,             2nd year wood; relatively smooth barked with lenticels round             in shape, <0.5 mm in length, about 10 per 1 cm of branch,             and 199D in color, main stem; slightly fissured bark.         -   Internode length.—Average of 4.5 cm. -   Foliage description:     -   -   Leaf shape.—Fan-shaped in overall outline.         -   Leaf division.—5 to 7 palmate.         -   Leaf size.—Average of 20 cm in length and 23 cm width.         -   Leaf quantity.—Average of 17 per stem 35 cm in length.         -   Leaflet shape.—Oblanceolate.         -   Leaflet base.—Attenuate.         -   Leaflet apex.—Acuminate.         -   Leaflet venation.—Pinnate pattern, conspicuous especially on             lower surface, color on upper surface 144C, color on lower             surface 145C.         -   Leaflet margins.—Serrulate.         -   Leaf attachment.—Petiolate.         -   Leaf arrangement.—Opposite.         -   Leaflet surface.—Glabrous and dull on upper surface and             glabrous and satiny on lower surface.         -   Leaflet color.—Newly expanded and mature upper and surface             137A, newly expanded and mature 137B, no unique fall color.         -   Leaflet size.—Up to 16 cm in length and 5.5 cm in width.         -   Petioles.—Up to 15 cm in length and an average of 3 mm in             width, clasping to stem at base, 144B in color with base             slightly suffused with 176B , surface is glabrous and             satiny, held horizontal to a 45° angle to branch, slightly             pendant, moderate strength.         -   Stipules.—None.         -   Leaf buds.—<0.5 mm in length, imbricate, triangular in             shape, N119C. -   Flower description:     -   -   Inflorescence type.—Terminal panicles of pea-like flowers on             main and secondary branches, blooms from the base to the             apex, flowers radially and uniformly dispersed around the             inflorescences.         -   Inflorescence size.—An average of 9 cm in length and 7 cm in             width.         -   Lastingness of inflorescence.—About 2 weeks.         -   Flower size.—An average of 2.5 cm in depth and about 2 cm in             diameter.         -   Flower fragrance.—None.         -   Flower/bud number per inflorescence.—An average of 76 open             flowers and buds.         -   Peduncle.—Round in shape, an average of 5 mm in length and 2             mm in width, 144A in color, surface is glabrous, strong in             strength.         -   Petiole.—Round in shape, up to an average of 1 cm in length             and 1 mm in width, color is a blend of 181A and 161A,             glabrous surface, moderately strong in strength.         -   Flower buds.—Oblong in shape, an average of 1 cm in length             and 5 mm in width, petal portion is 183A in color, calyx             portion a blend of 145A and 178B.         -   Flower type.—Papilionaceous, held at an average angle of 60°             (90°=upright).         -   Calyx.—Campanulate shaped, tubular, an average of 1 cm in             length and 5 mm in width, 100% fused around an open flower,             5 tips enclosed around flower petals, tips; an average of 3             mm in length and 2 mm in width, obtuse apexes, surface is             glabrous and shiny, color is a blend of 181A and 161A, small             spot on the edge of each tip 185B.         -   Sepals.—5, fused base, acute apex, entire margins, an             average of 1 cm in length and 2 mm in width, obtuse to             triangular in shape, outer surface is glabrous and shiny,             inner surface is glabrous, outer color is a blend of 181A             and 161A, small spot on the edge of each tip 185B, inner             color is mostly 160A and occasionally tinted with 181B.         -   Petals.—4, 50% fused into calyx, 2 bottom petals; 2 cm in             length, bottom to middle section is 2 mm in width, top             section is 5 mm in width, undulate margins, rounded apex,             upper and lower surfaces; shiny, satiny and moderately             covered with puberulent hairs on the margins that match the             surface color and are less than 0.5 mm in length, color:             upper and lower surface when opening; mostly 150A, tips a             blend of 150A and 182A, upper surface when fully open; base             to mid section is 11B, mid section to apex is 182A to 182B             with spots of 154A, moderately covered with pollen in the             mid section 23A, lower surface when fully open; base to mid             section is 155B, mid section to apex a blend of 182B and             155B with spots of 154A, 2 outer petals; 1.5 cm in length, 1             cm in width, undulate margins, bluntly acute apex, upper and             lower surfaces; shiny, satiny and moderately covered with             puberulent hairs on the margins that match the surface color             and are less than 0.5 mm in length, color: upper and lower             surface when opening; a blend of 150A and 182A, upper and             lower surface when fully open; base to mid section is 11B,             mid section to apex is 182A to 182B with spots of 154A.         -   Receptacle.—An average of 2 mm in depth, 3 mm in width,             glossy surface, 150A in color. -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Gynoecium.—Pistil; 1, an average of 2.2 cm in length and 1             mm in width, semi-glossy and covered with woolly puberulent             hairs matching surface color and less than 0.5 mm in length,             style; 29D in color and 2.1 cm in length, stigma; minute,             181A in color, ovary; superior, dull surface, 18C in color,             2 mm in length and width.         -   Androcoecium.—Stamens; 7, 2 cm in length and 1 mm in width,             filament; 1.9 mm in length, 1 mm in width, blended color;             base to mid section color is NN155B, midsection to tip color             is 180C, semi-glossy and covered with woolly puberulent             hairs matching surface color and less than 0.5 mm in length,             dorsifixed anther; club shaped, 1 mm in length and width and             N170A in color, pollen is moderate in quantity and located             mostly on the bottom 2 petals, 23A in color.         -   Fruit and seed.—Capsule, average of 2 develop per             inflorescence, oval-rounded in shape, an average of 1.7 cm             in length and 1.2 cm in width, 146D in color, spikey surface             with spikes an average of 0.5 mm in length, triangular in             shape, and 145C in color with tip 166B, seed; nut, an             average of 8 mm in length and width, 166B in color with             flesh 155A, glossy surface. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Aesculus plant named ‘Aaron1’ as herein illustrated and described. 